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/kənsˈit/ Listen

noun

Conceit n.

1.

That which is conceived, imagined, or formed in the mind; idea; thought; image; conception. "In laughing, there ever procedeth a conceit of somewhat ridiculous." "A man wise in his own conceit."

2.

Faculty of conceiving ideas; mental faculty; apprehension; as, a man of quick conceit. (Obs.) "How often, alas! did her eyes say unto me that they loved! and yet I, not looking for such a matter, had not my conceit open to understand them."

3.

Quickness of apprehension; active imagination; lively fancy. "His wit's as thick as Tewksbury mustard; there's more conceit in him than is in a mallet."

4.

A fanciful, odd, or extravagant notion; a quant fancy; an unnatural or affected conception; a witty thought or turn of expression; a fanciful device; a whim; a quip. "On his way to the gibbet, a freak took him in the head to go off with a conceit." "Some to conceit alone their works confine, And glittering thoughts struck out at every line." "Tasso is full of conceits... which are not only below the dignity of heroic verse but contrary to its nature."

5.

An overweening idea of one's self; vanity. "Plumed with conceit he calls aloud."

6.

Design; pattern. (Obs.)

In conceit with, in accord with; agreeing or conforming.

Out of conceit with, not having a favorable opinion of; not pleased with; as, a man is out of conceit with his dress.

To put (one) out of conceit with, to make one indifferent to a thing, or in a degree displeased with it.

verb

Conceit v. t. To conceive; to imagine. (Archaic) "The strong, by conceiting themselves weak, are therebly rendered as inactive... as if they really were so." "One of two bad ways you must conceit me, Either a coward or a flatterer."

Conceit v. i. To form an idea; to think. (Obs.) "Those whose... vulgar apprehensions conceit but low of matrimonial purposes."

See images of 'Conceit'

Etymology of 'Conceit'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Conceit" Quotes from Famous Books

... companion's laugh. He had gauged the real depth of de Windt's conceit, and knew him to be, at bottom, both sincere and just in his estimates of men and things. "I ought to be at home there, at least," he observed, quietly. "Caroline Ivanovna—Madame Dravikine—is ...

— The Genius • Margaret Horton Potter

... L. Stevenson I knew well as a lad and often met him and talked with him. He acted in private theatricals got up by the late Professor Fleeming Jenkin. But he had then, as always, a pretty guid conceit o' himsel'—which his clique have done nothing to check. His father and his grandfather (I have danced with his mother before her marriage) I knew better; but 'the family theologian,' as some of R. L. Stevenson's friends dabbed his father, was a very touchy theologian, and denounced any one who ...

— Robert Louis Stevenson - a Record, an Estimate, and a Memorial • Alexander H. Japp

... a clique of young nobles, full of arrogance and self-conceit, but scions of the greatest families. They hoped to recover the ancient ascendency of their houses. The chief of these were the Dukes of Beaufort, Epernon, and Guise. They made use, as their tool, of Madame Chevreuse, ...

— A Modern History, From the Time of Luther to the Fall of Napoleon - For the Use of Schools and Colleges • John Lord

... badly-starched shirt-collar almost obscured his eyes. We shall never be able to claim any credit as a physiognomist again, for, after a careful scrutiny of this gentleman's countenance, we had come to the conclusion that it bespoke nothing but conceit and silliness, when our friend with the silver staff whispered in our ear that he was no other than a doctor of civil law, and heaven knows what besides. So of course we were mistaken, and he must be a very talented ...

— Sketches by Boz - illustrative of everyday life and every-day people • Charles Dickens

... have stated before, had vast confidence in his own powers of persuasion; and general influence with women, and on this occasion, his really handsome features were made vulgar by a smirk of self-conceit which he could not conceal, owing to his natural vanity and a presentiment of success that is almost inseparable from persons of his class, who can scarcely look even upon the most positive and decided rejection by a woman as coming seriously from her heart. Even Harry ...

— The Emigrants Of Ahadarra - The Works of William Carleton, Volume Two • William Carleton

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